William Shatner is a Canadian actor, producer, director, screenwriter and singer who has amassed a net worth of $100 million as of 2023. He is best known for his portrayal of Captain James T. Kirk in the Star Trek franchise, which has made him a cultural icon and a sci-fi legend. Shatner has also starred in other popular shows and movies, such as T.J. Hooker, The Practice, Boston Legal, Miss Congeniality, and Better Late Than Never. He has also written several books, both fiction and non-fiction, and released several albums of spoken word and musical recordings. In this article, we will explore how William Shatner achieved his fame and fortune, and what he is doing now.
Early Life and Career
William Shatner was born on March 22, 1931, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, to a Jewish family. His parents were Ann and Joseph Shatner, who worked as a clothing manufacturer. He has two sisters, Joy and Farla. He attended Willingdon Elementary School and West Hill High School, where he developed an interest in acting. He joined the Montreal Children’s Theatre and performed in several plays. He also studied economics at McGill University, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in 1952.
Shatner began his professional acting career in Canadian films and television productions, such as The Butler’s Night Off (1951), Billy Budd (1955), and Encounter (1952-1957). He also performed in various theater productions, including the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. He moved to the United States in the late 1950s and appeared in several Broadway plays, such as The World of Suzie Wong (1958) and A Shot in the Dark (1961). He also landed guest-starring roles in various U.S. television shows, such as Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1957-1961), The Twilight Zone (1960-1963), The Outer Limits (1964), and The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964).
Star Trek Fame
Shatner’s big break came in 1966 when he was cast as Captain James T. Kirk in the second pilot of Star Trek, a science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry. The show followed the adventures of the starship Enterprise and its crew as they explored the galaxy and encountered various alien civilizations. Shatner played Kirk as a charismatic, courageous, and passionate leader who often clashed with his logical first officer Spock (played by Leonard Nimoy). The show ran for three seasons from 1966 to 1969 and became a cult classic among fans.
Shatner reprised his role as Kirk in Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973-1974), which continued the stories of the original series in animated form. He also starred in seven Star Trek feature films from 1979 to 1994: Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979), Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982), Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984), Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986), Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989), Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991), and Star Trek Generations (1994). He also directed Star Trek V: The Final Frontier and co-wrote the story for Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.
Shatner’s portrayal of Kirk made him one of the most recognizable and influential actors in the sci-fi genre. He also became a pop culture phenomenon and a source of parody and homage in various media. He has written several books about his experiences before, during, and after his time in Star Trek, such as Star Trek Memories (1993), Star Trek Movie Memories (1994), Up Till Now: The Autobiography (2008), Leonard: My Fifty-Year Friendship with a Remarkable Man (2016), and Live Long And… What I Learned Along the Way (2018). He has also co-written several novels set in the Star Trek universe with other authors.
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